tomgoodman

Yep. And today you would kick yourself every time you saw an F-18: "If only I had....."

The problem with regrets is that they are based on today's "knowledge". Had we taken a different path, we would now "know" different things. And we would be absolutely sure that we had blown the one chance we had to achieve our dream. That would be worse than trying and (through no fault of our own), failing.

Slice

And now you waste your adult years here complaining about a career that didn't work out for you...

mmaviator

I totally agree with this. Also, I read and try to be a Buddhist type of person so I will leave you with this SKY.

DO NOT DWELL IN THE PAST, DO NOT DREAM OF THE FUTURE, CONCENTRATE THE MIND ON THE PRESENT MOMENT. -Hindu Prince Gautama Siddhart(BUDDHA)

SkyHigh

We can not change the past nor do we own the future however hopefully we can learn from the mistakes we have made along the way and share the lessons with others.

Skyhigh

SkyHigh

In case you haven't noticed it does not work out for the majority of people. Others need to know.

Skyhigh

TonyWilliams

Do you see the irony in that statement. The career future is bleak, but it's for the love?????

We need to make this profession MUCH more difficult to get into, so that we can get paid on more than love.

USMCFLYR

Or better yet - what if I had had the chance to fly the bush while I was young, spend a career as I did in the military, and I was fortunate enough to have a second career as a corporate pilot? Hitting all three of my aviation dreams! I feel lucky enough to have accomplished one but would love to have the chance at another. Imagine if I had listened to all those who told me that I wasn't going to make it in the military and would never get a chance to fly?

USMCFLYR

BushwickBill

I thought bush flying was super cool until I was in Togiak AK and I checked it out first hand. I was lucky that there was a hiring boom at that point and I could get a job in the lower 48. I love the outdoors but I couldn't leave AK fast enough. Take it from me there are two kinds of people those who should stay in AK and those who should leave right away.

As far as "smoking pot and chasing girls" I guess I've had my cake and eaten it. Pot doesn't do much for me but big waves and boobies do.

Still I wish I had worked hard at getting a masters in science so I could have pursued a career as a meteorologist. What I can't stand about aviation is the lack of stability. Even if you think everything is going great something will smack you down with no warning. Right now I'm waiting on an email that could determine if I still have a job tomorrow. All because of a MX issue that was out of the blue with no warning.

It's funny when I teach instrument flying and people complain about the weather lessons I can't even understand them. After 6 years of professional aviation I would love to be a meteorologist. Stable job, you can be wrong most of the time (it seems to me anyway) and it is never dull or boring.

I think one of the strangest things about how our society works is that 18 year old kids are forced to pick a career when they don't have the slightest clue about how they would like to earn a living.

BushwickBill

Way cool man. I wish I could work with you...

SaltyDog

And my fellow nubile aviators or wannabe dreamers:

What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything? ~ Vincent van Gogh

Skyhigh, At least you had the courage to attempt, put the vinegar away and give a more positive message of life after aviation and you would have more credibility with the dreamers. Dreamkillers are usually ignored, hence you fail at your current mission.

Try this approach:

"Some people use failure as an excuse to give up,
to become bitter, or cynical.
Other people look at failure as an opportunity to
revisit past decisions and to devise new strategies."
Catherine Pulsifer, from Do Not Be Discouraged

Ditch the bitterness, other than that you have been a good role model. Your bitterness message is to tell people with a dream to not even try, take a real approach, requires sacrifice, here are realities, good luck, have a backup plan. Enjoy the journey. And remember:

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race”
Calvin Coolidge

Good luck, if you succeed, look forward to flying with you. If it doesn't work out. You have my respect for having the courage to pursue your dreams. May you live long in your ventures.
SD